THE MINISTRY OF JESUS (Part 1)

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (Colossians 1:21-22 NKJV).

In a word, the ministry of Jesus could be described as the ministry of “reconciliation.” What the Lord Jesus came down to do is simply to reconcile or restore all things to God, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

The Scripture states, “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Col. 1:19-20 NKJV).

Why did all things need to be reconciled to God?

Because all things were corrupted, alienated or estranged from God through Adam’s disobedience!

Through Adam sin entered the world, and through sin corruption and death entered the world and spread to the entire creation. In Adam we all became corrupted, dead, alienated or estranged from God (Rom. 5:12, 8:19-23, 1 Cor. 15:21-22).

All men were born dead in trespasses and sins. From birth we begin to walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, conducting ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and so are by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3, Col. 1:21).

Although we were sinners and enemies of God by nature and thus estranged from God, yet out of His great love for us, God made the move to reconcile or restore us to Himself.

How did God reconcile sinful men to Himself?

Through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross!

Paul reveals this truth in Romans 5:

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (NKJV).

He also writes, “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (Col. 1:21-22 NKJV).

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18 NKJV).

The Lord Jesus came into the world primarily to fulfil the ministry of reconciliation which His Father had given Him to do (John 17:4).

The Greek word that is translated “reconciliation” in 2 Cor. 5:18 is “Katallage.” It implies “a change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual; it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity.” (Easton’s Bible Dict.).

As sinners we were enemies to God and estranged from His holy presence. We were also the objects of God’s wrath, for the Justice of God demands the punishment of sinners. This is why the Scripture refers to sinners as “children of wrath”(Eph. 2:3 NKJV).

Not only did our sins separate, alienate or estrange us from God, they also qualified us for the fierce wrath of God. Our sins brought on us double tragedies!

There is absolutely nothing that we can do on our own to be reconciled to God. But out of His great love for us, though we were sinners and enemies to God, yet God sent His Son to be a Mediator between the holy God and the sinful men.

The special work of the Mediator is to abolish the enmity or hostility between God and men, to remove the sin-barrier between the holy God and the sinful men, to bring near the estranged sinful men to the holy God, and to restore the fallen men into favour with God.

The only means by which the Mediator could fulfil His ministry of reconciliation is by giving Himself as a ransom or an offering for the sinful men. Why?

Because the Justice of God to punish sinners must be satisfied!

Therefore, the Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, was offered as an atoning sacrifice or propitiation for our sins on the cross. It is only on this basis that the sinful men can be reconciled to God.

Paul writes, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:5-6 NKJV).

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (Col. 1:21-22 NKJV).

Christ’s propitiation or atonement for our sins is the only basis for our reconciliation to God. The death of Christ on the cross fully satisfied the demand of God’s justice to punish sinners and also the demand of God’s mercy to forgive and justify sinners. At the cross of Christ, God’s justice kissed God’s mercy; both were fully expressed and fully satisfied. Hallelujah!

The Lord Jesus abolished the enmity or hostility between the holy God and the sinful men in His flesh (Eph. 2:15). He made peace between God and men through the blood of His cross (Col. 1:20).

The Scripture states, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.” (Eph. 2:13-14 NKJV).

Having offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice or propitiation for our sins on the cross, the Lord Jesus had completed His work as the Mediator between God and men, and fulfilled His ministry of reconciliation (John 17:4). That is why before Christ yielded up His Spirit on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30 NKJV). Glory!

Beloved, Christ has reconciled you to God having completely abolished in His flesh the hostility between God and you through His death on the cross. Therefore, your sins can no longer separate, alienate or estrange you from God.

God is no longer far from you; you have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ. God is no longer your enemy; He is now your friend. God is no longer angry or mad at you. God no longer see you as His enemy. You are no longer the object of God’s wrath.

What then should you do?

Be reconciled to God!

Receive God’s hand of friendship extended to you! How?

By acknowledging and receiving the Mediator, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for you so that you may be reconciled to God!

By putting your faith in Christ and His finished work of reconciliation at the cross, and confessing Him as your personal Lord and Saviour!

Having been reconciled to God, don’t keep the good news to yourself; spread the message of reconciliation to others. God has given you the ministry of reconciliation!

Paul explains this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. (NKJV).

Find out more about the blessing of the Ministry of Jesus in the next piece!

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making the move to reconcile me to yourself through the Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for me. I put my whole trust in Christ today and confess Him as my Lord and Saviour, in Jesus’ name. Amen.